Montessori classrooms focus on the education of the whole child. In our elementary programs, we support the cognitive, social and emotional development of our students through direct instruction and role modeling. Curriculum is based on a comprehensive scope and sequence, using hands-on materials that allow the students to learn and master foundational concepts and build on that knowledge to deepen understanding of advanced ideas. Social and emotional growth is gained with consistent focus on the development of community mindedness, self-awareness and self-advocacy.
Language
The Lower Elementary language program is designed to develop student’s basic skills in reading and writing. Curriculum includes reading fluency and comprehension, grammar and vocabulary (e.g. word study, parts of speech, sentence analysis), oral communication development, and skills to support creative, functional (e.g. spelling, punctuation, capitalization) and research writing. As students move through the program, they gain the ability to “read to learn” and to accurately express their feeling, thoughts and needs in both oral and written form. Additionally, our students receive language lessons from our Spanish teacher to build vocabulary, conversational skills, and cultural understanding of Spanish-speaking areas around the world.
Mathematics
In our mathematics curriculum, we begin moving from concrete Montessori materials to abstract ideas and concepts. Students are able to experience concepts not only through visual and auditory activities and lessons, but also by engaging in kinesthetic activities, which strengthens understanding, leading to permanent mastery. This approach allows students to be introduced to advanced concepts early on and gives them ample time to practice with the materials until abstraction is reached. Concepts covered in our program include numeration, operations/computation, measurement, problem solving, mathematical patterns and relationships, and geometry.
Cultural Subjects (History, Geography, Sciences)
All of our cultural endeavors begin with the Montessori idea of cosmic education. We introduce concepts as “big picture” stories to spark an interest in the student which encourages them to ask questions and complete further study of the subject. We start each year with the story of the beginning of the universe and from that our students dig into many science and social studies concepts. Our science curriculum in the Lower Elementary program includes classifications within zoology and botany, ecology, and scientific experimentation using concepts of states of matter, magnetism, sound, gravity, water, light, oral and written form. Additionally, our students receive language lessons from our Spanish teacher to build vocabulary, conversational skills, and cultural understanding of Spanish-speaking areas around the world.
Curriculum Documents
For more detailed information on specific material and skills covered within the curriculum, please review the following Curriculum Overview or please call 773.714.0646 or email for more information or to make an appointment.